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Night-time temple ritual at a large dark stone base with lotus-petal carving. A standing young priest with a tilak and rudraksha mala, bare-chested, wears an orange dhoti with gold border, palms pressed in anjali. To the right, a gold ornate peetha or throne with a red cushion and a garland of yellow flowers holds a deity murti, flanked by gold trident-topped staffs. A seated priest at left with folded hands sits beside a brass puja tray, and brass vessels rest on the red platform. Tiered seating behind holds several devotees in white and orange garments with small oil lamps lining the steps.

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Evening scene at a large stone lamp structure with a carved lotus-petal base. In the centre, a young man in an orange-saffron dhoti with yellow borders stands barechested with rudraksha beads and a white necklace, palms joined in namaskar. To the left, a seated priest in white dhoti with white forehead markings holds his hands together. On the right, a gilded ornate throne with a red cushion and a garland of yellow and orange flowers, flanked by trident-topped gold staffs and a brass kalasha. Brass pots sit on the platform, and people in white and saffron-coloured clothing sit on tiered red steps in the background.2016-12-12A young shirtless male priest in an orange and yellow dhoti stands in the foreground beside a large dark stone basin, palms pressed together in front of his chest, with a white tripundra on his forehead, a rudraksha mala and white neck beads. Behind him, rows of seated devotees in white and yellow clothes face the scene on tiered red-steps, some with hands folded in prayer, and brass pots and oil lamps are set along the platform beside a gold-trimmed ceremonial structure. A gold-coloured ceremonial umbrella and yellow cloth are at right. The scene suggests a temple deepam ritual at night.2016-12-12December 12 20162016-12-12A young male priest stands barefoot in the foreground of a temple courtyard, his bare chest adorned with a rudraksha mala and a small ceremonial necklace, palms pressed together in anjali. He wears an orange dhoti with a yellow-gold border and white vertical markings on his face and torso. Beside him is a large dark stone lamp base or vessel. Behind him, rows of seated devotees in white and yellow garments face the same direction on tiered red steps, many with small oil lamps and brass vessels placed nearby. On the right, a golden ornamented structure and a yellow silk cloth are visible. The scene suggests a Karthigai Deepam lamp ceremony with lamps being lit in the temple.2016-12-12A young standing figure in an orange dhoti with a yellow-and-gold border stands bare-chested beside a large dark stone base carved with lotus petals. He wears a rudraksha mala and a silver chain, has white sacred ash marks on his forehead and arms, and holds his hands clasped at waist level. Behind him, tiered red-and-brown steps hold many brass lamps and seated devotees in white and yellow garments. A golden shrine frame and a yellow cloth draped over brass vessels appear at right, with small brass oil lamps on the floor.2016-12-12Evening photograph of a temple tank or steps during a lamp festival. In the foreground a bare-chested young boy with short dark hair stands in an orange-saffron dhoti with a gold-edged cloth, wearing a rudraksha mala and bangles, hands together. Behind him, rows of seated devotees in white and colourful garments fill the red stone steps, with many small brass oil lamps lit along the steps. A cameraman in white with a tripod-mounted camera films at right. Lamps and lamp light create warm glow throughout the scene.2016-12-12Outdoor ritual at a stepped amphitheatre filled with seated participants in white, orange and colourful clothing, many with brass oil lamps set on the red tiers. In the foreground on a red mat, a young Gurukul-style boy with bare chest, orange dhoti and rudraksha mala stands with palms joined in namaskar, while a smaller child in orange cloth stands at right. A gilded ornate throne or seat is at left. Banner with green and red trim at upper left.2016-12-17A young boy with short dark hair stands in the foreground in an orange dhoti with gold-edged border and a beaded necklace, hands pressed together in anjali mudra, gazing forward. Behind him, rows of seated devotees on red-brick temple steps are arranged among many small brass oil lamps, some lit with flames, and dark kalasha-style pots. Most seated men are bare-chested with white or saffron dhotis; one cameraman in a white dhoti with gold border films from the right. The scene suggests a deepam lamp-lighting ritual at dusk. No one is clearly identifiable as a person from appearance.2016-12-12A photograph of a yoga session on an open red-carpeted stage with tiered red steps behind it. In the foreground a bare-chested young man with long dark hair and white markings on his arms and chest stands in an orange dhoti with a gold border, hands clasped in front of him. Behind him on the steps, many seated participants in white clothing sit before rows of small dark and golden vessels, and several people stand or sit on the upper tiers. Some participants wear white dhotis and others wear dark clothing. Hindu-style ritual yoga practice is evident in the setting.2016-12-16Outdoor ritual at a tiered stone amphitheatre with red-carpeted floor. In the foreground a bare-chested young male devotee stands with hands folded at his chest, wearing orange dhoti and rudraksha mala. To the right a second person in orange dhoti stands with back turned. Behind them, hundreds of seated audience members fill red-brick steps lined with rows of small brass oil lamps. Gold ceremonial seat or peetha is visible at left edge.2016-12-17A young man stands on a red-carpeted stone platform with palms pressed together in namaskar, bare-chested, wearing an orange dhoti with gold-edged waist sash and a rudraksha mala with a white tilak and body markings. Behind him, a man in white dhoti and shawl stands near brass vessels, and seated people with red robes and a golden throne with tiger-print cushion sit to the left beside marigold garlands and a brass kalasha. Rows of brass lamps and red flags line the tiered steps in the background, with spectators seated on the stairs.2016-12-15Outdoor ceremony on a raised red-carpeted stage in front of tiered stone seating filled with seated participants in white and pastel clothing. In the foreground a young man in a saffron-orange dhoti and shawl, bare-chested with white body markings, long dark hair, a beaded necklace and gold ornaments, stands with palms pressed together. Beside him a young girl in orange dress with gold trim stands with her arm raised. A tall brass trident stands at the left edge, and rows of brass oil lamps line the seating steps.2016-12-17